Device for straightening hair



Aug. 22,1939. A. SHELBY DEVICE FOR STRAIGHTENING HAIR Filed June 22, 193'? -l& 2 2."

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a device for treating the human hair and more particularly to a means for and method of straightening hair having a wavy or kinky character.

It has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character which is so designed and constructed as to effectually straighten virgin hair permanently in a convenient manner and without discomfort to the wearer. l

Another object ofthe invention is the pr vision of a hair straightening device which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, and which embodies means for stretching the hair by tensioning it between slowly moving roll- 15 ers and at the same time treating the hair to break down its structure and render it elfectually responsive to the stretching process, and also means for treating the straightened hair with cold or refrigerated air for the purpose of contracting the hair after straightening.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my hair straightening device. Figure 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section thereof. Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of line 3 3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross section taken substantially in the plane of line 4 4, Figure 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, this hair straightening vdevice or apparatus is designed for use by hair dressers and the like and consists of a sectional frame or chambered member between which portions of hair to be straighten-ed are inserted, such frame carrying slowly-moving rollers 40 between which the hair is properly stretched by a tensioning action transmitted by such rollers; means for treating the hair while undergoing stretching, such means consisting of steam or the like which acts to break down the hair struc- 45 ture and render it effectually responsive to the straightening process, the roller-carrying frame constituting a chamber for this treatment; and means whereby cold or refrigerated air is introduced into this chamber to contract the hair after 50 the straightening process.

Referring now to the drawing, depicting the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals I0, I indicate the companion sections of the main frame or chambered body of the device, and which carry the operating parts thereof.

These sections are hinged to each other as indicated at II so as to be readily opened and closed when desired, as when inserting a section of hair to be straightened and permitting its removal after straightening, suitable catches I2 being 5 provided for holding the sections in closed sealing engagement during the straightening process. In order to insure a duid-tight seal between the sections, their opposing edges may be provided with sealing strips I3 of rubber or like material.

This sectional casing forms a chamber within which the hair is treated and borne by each of the sections I0 are rollers I4 which are disposed crosswise thereof in predetermined spaced rela- 1 tion so that when the sections are closed the companion rollers are disposed in opposing relation to receive the hair to be straightened between them, these rollers functioning to stretch the hair by a more or less tensioning action created by the rollers. As shown in the drawing and particularly Figure 2, these rollers are preferably faced with rubber or like material, as indicated at I5, which is or" a comparatively hard texture to effectively perform the stretching or" the hair and still accommodate the roll-ers to hair which may be of varying thickness. These rollers are adapted to be revolved at a comparatively slow speed during the straightening operation and for this purpose a flexible driving shaft I6 is provided which may be driven, from an lelectric motor or other source of power not shown, and which is directly connected to one of the rollers I4, say, the front one of the group. The rollers of the upper group-are revolved in the same direction and the rollers of the lower group are revolved in the opposite direction and to this end each roller carries a gear Il. The gear of the foremost driving roller meshes with a like gear on its companion opposing roller, and journaled on the frame sections II! between the remaining respective gears Il are idler gears I8 which act to revolve the successive rollers in the same directions as the respective foremostl driving rollers. At its front or feed end, the sectional casing I0, I0 is provided with opposing plates I9 between which the hair is guided and directed into the casing. In using the device when the free ends of the hair have been properly introduced into the front end of the device motion is then transmitted to the rollers I4, the device thereupon traveling over the hair to simultaneously stretch and straighten it.

The sectional casing I0, Il) constitutes a treating chamber for the hair and during the straight- 55 ening operation, steam or like solution is introduced into the chamber to break down the hair structure and render it eiectually responsive to the straightening process. For this purpose a conduit 2B is provided which is connected at one end to a source of steam or like solution While its other end is connected at 2| to the casing I0. A valve 22 may be interposed in this conduit to control the flow of solution therethrough. If desired, the casing may be properly insulated to facilitate the ready manipulation of the device by the attendant.

After the straightening and the heat-treating processes have been performed on. the hair, the hair is then subjected to cold or refrigerated air Which acts to contract the hair after the virgin kinky or curly hair has been straightened. For this purpose a conduit 23 is provided which is connected at one end to a source of cold or refrigerated air while its other end is connected at 24 to the sectional casing Il), a. suitable valve or cock 25 being interposed in the conduit to control the supply of' fluid to the casing.

In order to render this device eiectually useful in straightening new growths of hair after an individual has been initially treated, I pro-vide the casing lil, l!) with openings normally closed by doors or closures 26, as shown in Figure 2. These closures may be hinged to the casing as indicated at 2l and provided with suitable packing 28 to insure a proper sealing of the openings by the closures when in their closed position. These closures may be located at different points along the length of the chambered casing I and when straightening a new section of hair the free or previously-straightened ends are passed through the openings so as not to come in contact with the straightening rollers I4.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for straightening hair, comprising a sectional casing adapted to be closed in sealing engagement to provide al treating chamber, and rollers rotatably mounted in said casing and between Which the hair to be straightened is passed.

2. A device for straightening hair, comprising a sectional casing adapted to be closed in sealing engagement to provide a treating chamber, a series of rollers applied to said casing in opposing relation to receive the hair to be straightened between them, one set of rollers being borne by one of the casing sections and the other set of rollers being borne by the companion casing section, and means for transmitting motion to said rollers to rotate them in the same direction.

3. A device for straightening hair, comprising a chambered casing, hair straightening rollers mounted therein and between which the hair to be straightened is adapted to pass, and means for introducing a treating solution to said chambered casing.

4. A device for straightening hair, comprising a chambered casing, hair straightening rollers mounted therein and between Which the hair to be straightened is adapted to pass, means for introducing a treating solution to the chambered casing during the straightening operation, and means for introducing a cold iluid to said chambered casing to contract the hair after the straightening operation.

5. A method of straightening kinky or curly virgin hair which consists in stretching the hair by subjecting it to a tensioning action, treating the hair during such stretching operation with a solution to break down, the hair structure and render it eiectually responsive to the straightening operation, thereafter subjecting the straightened hair to a cold or refrigerated fluid to contract the straightened hair.

6. A device for straightening hair, comprising a casing forming a treating chamber for the hair, and opposing, rotatable means mounted in said casing for operative engagement with the hair to exert a tensioning and stretching action on the hair.

7. A device for straightening hair, comprising a casing forming a treating chamber, and means movably arranged in said casing for guiding the hair therethrough and for exerting a tensioning and stretching action thereon.

8. A device for straightening hair, comprising a casing forming a treating chamber, and means movably arranged in said casing for guiding the hair therethrough and for exerting a tensioning and stretching action thereon, said casing having a normally-sealed opening therein for the passage of previously straightened ends of the hair.

ALBERT SHELBY. 

